At the base of the Sword Mountains

The Sword Mountains have long been a chaotic and dangerous place, inhabited by feuding tribes of Orcs and Trolls constantly fighting each other for supremacy over the Mountains. Four times they united and formed a Horde to rampage the Savage Frontier, four times they failed and disunited again.

This time, you aimed to put a permanent end to this constant annoyance at your doorstep for several reasons; to secure your western flank against potential enemy incursions, to gain easier land access to the fortress of Thornhold – a chapterhouse of the Knights of Samular, and to gain access to the western beachline nearby, allowing you to build a port city and gain access to the Sword Coast.

From there, you could potentially launch invasions against the Northlander Kingdoms based in the Northlander and Moonshae Isles; their kind plagued the Sword Coast and all towns and cities in the Savage Frontier for centuries, killing citizens and depopulating many bastions of civilisation in a land already as dangerous as its name suggested.

It was here that you met Marshal Carberos, at the head of a fully assembled army numbering at least two thousand men and women of Elves, Humans and Half-Elves. Apart from that, you could also see a few hundred Shield Dwarves from the realm of Dardath – a gesture from Tyswaen you appreciated – and a few thousand more under a different banner, led by a single Dwarf with a thick grey beard and dressed in thick armour.

“My Lord, the army is assembled as you ordered, and the Dwarves from Dardath will be helping us as well,” Said Carberos, “Though, I did not expect other Dwarves to come and give their help for this campaign.”

You nod at him, saying, “Good work, Carberos. And the other Dwarves? What of their affiliation?”

“Apparently, they belong to a Clan Stoneshaft, a nomadic Dwarven Clan that has existed for at least three centuries. This is the entirety of their army – a full five thousand ready to fight whatever dwells in the Sword Mountains,” Said Carberos, “They are led by Khargram Stoneshaft, founder of the Clan and a skilled Runepriest, apparently.”

Acknowledging this with another nod, you slowly trot towards the Dwarf in question, his thick grey beard tied in intricate braids secured with clasps of gold and silver. Wearing thick armour embossed with bright silver and a lush red cape trimmed with golden fur, he stands out among his less flashily dressed subordinates in a sea of dull grey.

You then address the old Dwarf, “Are you Khargram Stoneshaft, Patriarch of Clan Stoneshaft?”

The Dwarf addresses you with a grunt and a nod, saying, “Who’s asking?”

“Lord of Elaxalim Thaeral, son of Shala Thaeral of the Wood Elves of Dusk Circle,” You stated, “I would like to hear your reasons for participating in this campaign.”

What sounds like an appreciative grunt sounds from Khargram’s mouth, as he says, “Not one to mince words, eh? Very well, I’ll keep it short: We want a home.”

“You want to plant roots?” You ask.

“Aye, what else?” Said Khargram, sounding bitter, “I’m damn tired of having to roam around like a damn refugee, where my people have to constantly haggle and barter for goods to ensure we’re fed for another day. We’re hardy folk, capable of enduring bitter struggles and harsh lives, but there’s a limit to even that.”

“Hence why you leap at the chance to help clear a mountain range for your taking,” You finish, “Admirable, but I cannot simply let you have the mountain for yourselves, I’m afraid, whether or not you’re willing to stake a claim.”

Some of the Dwarves are understandably grumbling and angry at your words, but a glance from Khargram silences them as he nods, saying, “I figured that this was coming. After all, only reason I see an Elven army here means you’ve got a claim to stake as well, don’t ya?”

“Precisely,” You said, “So why not we negotiate?”

“Fine then,” Said Khargram, “What are your terms?”

“Not here, we discuss in your tent,” You said.

“Then what are we waiting for?” Said Khargram.

It was in the confines of Clan Stoneshaft’s command tent that you and your officers met with Khargram and his, your eyes viewing a map of the region itself. On it marked several key locations from which your armies were to assail the Sword Mountains, along with your respective base camps.

“So, in exchange for permitting our participation in this campaign and letting us settle down in the Sword Mountains, you want us to swear fealty to you, and to Dusk Circle by extension?” Said Khargram.

“Exactly,” You said, “I cannot and will not yield on this condition, for I desire to expand my borders as well.”

“Heh, Dwarves serving Elves, truly something unheard of,” Said Khargram, “Though, you make your point.”

“Lord Khargram-”

“However, if I’m to suborn myself to a greater power, I want your guarantee that you won’t be treatin’ us like shit or whatever – suffered too much of that for one lifetime,” Said Khargram, “Especially if you’re thinking of making further use of us in the future.”

Some of the gathered Wood Elves are tempted to draw their swords in response to Khargram’s thinly-veiled accusations, but you hold a hand and bade them to stay their blades – which they do.

“Then how about this?” You said, “In exchange for your swearing of fealty to me, I exempt your entire clan from taxes for five years. I will also allow you to take loans for money, seeds, farming tools and any other things you need from us, so long as we can provide, and your merchants and artisans can ply their craft in any parts of our territories for a profit. Is that acceptable?”

Khargram nods at this, then says, “There’s also one more thing I would like as a price, actually.”

“What would that be, then?” You ask, caution in your words.

Khargram then says, “I want your help in cleansing Iniarv’s Tower nearby, permanently.”

A/N: The wiki doesn’t really have any info on Clan Stoneshield – the same clan that eventually took control of Thornhold when gifted it by the Knights of Samular. I just went with my imagination.